Congress is moving to update a law that has kept Blackwater USA and other private security contractors in Iraq immune to criminal prosecution. The White House contends the change could cause new problems, AP reported. The House of Representives was expected to pass on Thursday legislation by Democratic Rep. David Price that would extend the criminal jurisdiction of U.S. courts to any federal contractor working alongside military operations. Senate Democratic leaders said they planned to pass the law quickly and send the measure to President George W. Bush to sign into law. The legislation comes amid a string of allegations involving Blackwater USA employees hired by the State Department to protect diplomatic personnel in Iraq. In one case, a drunk Blackwater employee left a party in Baghdad and fatally shot the guard of one of Iraq's vice presidents. The contractor was fired, fined and returned home to the United States, but no charges have been filed. More recently, Blackwater guards were involved in a Sept. 16 shootout that left at least 11 Iraqis dead. The FBI is currently investigating the incident. But whether charges can be brought against any of the contractors is unclear. Generally, new laws cannot be applied retroactively and current laws governing the conduct of U.S. personnel abroad not hired directly by the military are murky. The current law, called the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act, covers personnel supporting the mission of Defense Department operations overseas. Because Blackwater's primary mission is to protect State Department officials, defense lawyers would likely argue successfully that the law does not apply. At the same time, U.S. contractors are immune from prosecution by Iraqi courts. White House officials say they support increasing accountability of contractors abroad, but worry that the House bill is too vague and may go too far. An administration statement issued Wednesday said the bill would have «unintended and intolerable consequences for crucial and necessary national security activities and operations.» The statement did not explain further or give examples.
